Italy: Matera, Otranto & the Puglia Coast
7 Days
Starting From
$4,445.00
10 Days
Starting From
$5,445.00
per person, double occupancy
Want more from your experience?
Add an ExtensionGive in to the seductions of Basilicata and Puglia, Italy—awash in coastal and mountain landscapes and stone-carved villages—on this sublime walking tour.
In the hidden rural corners of Basilicata and along the spectacular coast of Puglia, Italy, locals love their passeggiate—leisurely strolls—and it’s easy to see why. Soothing waters shimmer in the Adriatic and Ionian seas. Whitewashed villages cut from stone hug the surf-lashed coast and blanket the fertile countryside. And striking landscapes of soaring limestone peaks and river-cut ravines make for some sublime passeggiate of your own. On this stunning walking tour into the heart of two of Italy’s most scenic regions, you’ll follow the paths of ancient farmers and pilgrims, passing olive groves, undulating vineyards, old shepherd settlements, and rock-hewn churches. Marvel at fairy-tale trullo architecture. Meet dedicated artisans who keep local heritage alive. Savor the tantalizing flavor creations of farm-to-fork chefs. And stay in a luxuriously converted cave dwelling, an elegant palace, and a refined masseria farmhouse.
Highlights
- Tour the magical stone city of Matera with a local guide who brings its rich culture to life.
- Stroll into the whitewashed village of Alberobello, and savor wine and traditional snacks at an enoteca fashioned from one of the region’s beehive-shaped trulli.
- Savor the breathtaking mountain views as much as the regional dishes in Castelmezzano in the picturesque Dolomiti Lucane.
- Unwind poolside, a glass of primitivo in hand, at an authentic Apulian masseria, or farmhouse, near the enchanting coastal town of Otranto.
- Walk the final stretch of the via Francigena—the “road from France”—to the southernmost point of Puglia at Santa Maria di Leuca.
Positive Impact
Country Walkers is proud to support Le Costantine Foundation with a donation on behalf of each guest on this tour. Le Costantine Foundation is a women-focused group dedicated to preserving the traditions, agriculture, restoration of ancient beehives, and artisan crafts of Puglia, along with providing economic independence to women in the small community outside Otranto, Puglia.
Accommodations
Linger Longer with a Tour Extension
2024 Post-Trip Extension - Lecce
- One night at the Patria Palace Hotel
- Airport car service for departure
- Daily breakfast
- City information
1 Night From $145
per person, double occupancy
Single Supplement: From $95
After a delicious included breakfast at your hotel, you are free to explore on your own, using our included city information to guide your discoveries.
Included Meals: Breakfast
After an included breakfast this morning, complimentary transportation to the airport is provided (an approximate 40-minute or two-hour drive, depending on the departure airport and traffic) for your departing flight.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Patria Palace Hotel
The guides were amazing. They took care of everybody and were very informative. The food was amazing, the walks/hikes were mostly great. Only negative thing I could say, it was extremely hot and humid. Sometimes we needed to walk on asphalt which exacerbated the heat.. My fellow travelers were also fun and a nice group.
Italy: Matera, Otranto & the Puglia Coast
This was our fifth VBT/Country Walkers trip and it was outstanding. The others were great but this one stood out because of our terrific guides, Debora and Mauro, our congenial companion hikers, and of course Puglia itself. Beginning with Monopoli, it was a most interesting old city and worthy of an extra day to explore it. The other cities were unique in their own right and had much to offer. The hikes/walks were a mix of flat, coastal, and mountainous with some of them a bit more challenging, like the trip down the gorge and up. But our guides were…
Italy: Matera, Otranto & the Puglia Coast
Expert Local Guides
Experience your destination like an insider with people who call it home.
Emiliano Limauro
During a childhood spent in Puglia, Emiliano developed an unconditional love of nature and outdoor sports. Moving on to become a trekking and MTB instructor and rafting guide, Emiliano loves sport climbing and paragliding. In the summers, he enjoys spending time on the water—working as a skipper and water-scooter rescuer in the clear Adriatic waters off the coast of Puglia. Above all, Emiliano enjoys introducing new people to the beauty and culture of his beloved homeland.
Cosimo Burgi
Cosimo Burgi is a hiker, traveler, and active adventure guide with deep roots in Puglia. A member of Italian alpine group Club Alpino Italiano, Cosimo is fascinated by geology and spends his free time trekking and exploring. Cosimo owns an eco-friendly B&B in Matera, and loves to introduce his guests to the natural beauty of his native Basilicata.
Marcello Bertino
Though born in the Piedmont wine hills of northern Italy, Marcello Bertino is equally passionate about the region of Puglia. No wonder: the hiking and biking guide met his wife and raised a family in this compelling region. Through the years he has learned much about the strong tastes and deep contradictions of “Apulia,” breathing in the ancient silence of the olive groves, absorbing its local folklore, and studying its charming Mediterranean culture. Today, he is excited to introduce guests to the tasty mix of history, culture, and cuisine experiences the region offers.
Debora Trippetti
Debora grew up in a tiny Apulian village close to Italy’s easternmost point. Her carefree days were filled with swimming, scuba diving, cycling, and walking in the unspoiled region of the Mediterranean that she loved so much. Her travels later brought her to the Red Sea and to many other European countries. But her trails always led back to her roots, where she relishes her role as ambassador to a land brimming with history, tradition, authentic cuisine, and landscapes untouched by modern tourism. She says that much of Puglia remains undiscovered and she cherishes the pleasure of introducing guests to its hidden treasures … and of course to its decadent artisanal gelato!